Ranocchia playing for Inter not Italy

Andrea Ranocchia has claimed that his improving form is a message to his club and not Italy boss Cesare Prandelli.

Andrea Ranocchia has claimed that his improving form is a message to his club and not Italy boss CesarePrandelli.

The latter brought Ranocchia into the international set-up during qualifying for Euro 2012, but the stopper didn’t make the tournament and was omitted from the squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers.

“Is my positive start to the season a message for Prandelli? No, it’s for Inter,” said the centre-back who had a 2011-12 to forget.

“If I continue to play as well as I have been doing this season then maybe Italy will come calling for me again.”

Ranocchia again caught the eye on Sunday as he starred in the 2-0 win at Torino – a side bossed by his former Bari tactician Giampiero Ventura.

“We’re extremely satisfied, but we must give credit to Torino,” he added. “They really made things difficult for us, as is always the case when you play a team coached by Ventura.

“It was important to win so we don't lose ground and to signal our intent to the rest. We must work one day at a time and give everything, then we'll see where we are at the end.”